The Effects of Scaling Procedures on Epithelial Cell Growth on Titanium Surfaces

This study examined in vitro epithelial cell growth on titanium surfaces which had been instrumented by 3 types of periodontal curets. Commercially pure titanium discs were uniformly scaled using plastic, stainless steel, or gold-coated curets and then seeded with a microdot (50,000 cells per 10 microliters) of rat gingival epithelial cells. After 5 days of growth, epithelial cell surface area (mm2) coverage was measured on photographed specimens using a computer digitizing system. Scanning electron microscopic evaluation showed a denser central core of cellular growth on the stainless steel-treated surfaces as compared to the other surface treatments. Epithelial surface area coverage on the stainless steel, plastic, and control groups did not vary significantly among groups. However the gold-coated curet exposed surfaces supported significantly less epithelial growth than the stainless steel and control surfaces. A better understanding of in vitro epithelial cell responses to different titanium surface characteristics will assist in designing implant scaling procedures which allow maintenance of the implant perimucosal seal.